Last fall I broke my wolf tooth dropper post lever on a crash. It was the axle that snapped on impact. I was very surprised to see that I could buy the spare part for 10€ instead of buying a whole new assembly. In the US it will probably be even cheaper since they are manufacturing there afaik.
I spent some time at the Wolf Tooth booth at a few fest around where im at and i always would go back because their people were always the most down to earth and real!
@RollinRat i agree totally. however a fixed gear is like driving one gear car... yeah you dont have to worry about a transmission failing but sometimes you gotta weigh the good with the bad. and what you are willing to compromise. try living in pittsburgh with a one gear bike and riding up and down mount washington! lol rarely does my bike break down if you keep the upkeep. and even then things ware. always going to be maintenance, with anything that has moving parts.
Gravel bikes are a rediscovery of what made 90's XC mountain biking so rad. It really was Cross Country at first, which then morphed into XC racing. At some point we added FS, then "all-mountain" came into play, then 29ers, then groomed downhill courses. They changed the point that mixed-surface riding wasn't as much fun and you drove to the trail instead of exploring.
I just did the full service for my fullsusser and it cost me a whopping 500 euros, glad I have my gravel bike that I can maintain myself and even if i was to bring it to the LBS it would cost me a 100.- at most…
@@mohongzhi I still do plenty of mixed surface riding on my hardtail mtb, but it's not the same experience as going to a mtb specific trail. It's like saying, "why drive to a hiking trail when you could just walk around your neighborhood?" I do try to offset driving to the trail by living close enough to my job to bike commute.
@@mikemichaels4500 True, that not what i mentioned. I will have to drive to nearest hill or mountain cause it's at least 200km away a couple of times every year. What i mean is we just don't really need to drive like 20km and do the trial ride and drive back home these kind of things. Drive there should be it really just save lots of time.
So much truth spoken here! Exploring, not caring too much about weight, the dangers of main roads, fixing your own bike, having more of a generalist bike.. Really explains why I love my Kona Sutra!
I wish I had a Kona Sutra! I bought a Canyon Grail a few years ago, and while it's a great gravel bike, it's ill-suited to touring, what's with its carbon handlebar and fork, and total lack of thinking about storage options. So I'm stuck now, while Kona Sutra sounds like the exact fit for my touring/gravel/commute needs.
Except weight does matter. Went from a 24 lb Niner RLT 9 steel (that bike sucked) to a 19 lb titanium Merlin Sandstone, and it's so much nicer on the steeper gradients. I'd prefer a pound or two lighter, but titanium is a no-brainer for a gravel bike. Carbon is great if you get your bikes for free.
Regarding fixing your own bike: it really isn't hard, and a complete bicycle tool box is not expensive. The dude at 2:00 is wrong, though: your local mechanic does mind walking you through this stuff. Because you're basically asking him to teach you not to pay him. You want a competent repair shop around, do the guys solid and give them some work. But don't expect them to run a business for you to scrounge their know-how. You can get that easily here on youtube.
Bells, yes! I have a bell on my road bike and use it mostly on multi-use trails. The response from people is very positive. A bell is much more friendly that yelling out "On your left!" Bells are happy!
My typical encounter reaction from when I use my bell is this: the pedestrian I am trying to warn will most likely have earbuds in, BUT - the rare occasion they don't have them in they will instead look at their phone trying to figure out what alarm is going off. A sound that has never emanated from their device will still trigger this auto-response action. Nearly every time in my area. That said I still ring that thing regardless and simply plan on giving them a very wide berth since I don't want to crash into the stupefied device user desperately trying to locate the annoying app making that awful ringing sound.
For decades plenty or riders just rode road bikes on dirt roads. the "scene" of "gravel" is definitely a fad, replacing cylcocross and XC mountain biking before that, and something else will come along in the future.
@@Driver8takeabreak Most of the roads in Vermont are dirt, most roadies used CX bikes for decades here. I don't see how it could possibly be a fad if you live where there are a lot of dirt roads. Gravel bikes have been a thing for a decade now. Riding dirt is better in a lot of ways compared to paved...less cars, more scenic, more climbing and generally dirt roads have a lot steeper grades. It's actually generally more comfortable too in areas that have a lot of dirt and paved roads, since those are often in colder climates which have terrible paved road surfaces. Dirt roads often become very smooth for most of the summer, but even with that, road bikes are absolute shit for riding dirt. Come up to 5 miles of freshly graded dirt road (common thing here)? Good luck with your 28s....been there, it sucks ass.
@@Driver8takeabreak My gravel bike has always been the road bike I raced that had just been replaced by a new one. I just needed to change the wheels for a set of touring wheels and I had a new 'gravel' bike for shopping and towing a trailer for camping and such and for treating badly on fire trails.
Very interesting. Thanks! Many speakers talk about safety (or rather the lack of safety when sharing the road with cars). Hopefully someday we'll see some real changes in our way of life - the ubiquitous and all-powerful car culture, among other things... It's a lot of fun to ride off-road, but I don't don't think that's the solution to the dangers of sharing the road with cars (increasingly big and filled with "electronic distractions") for cyclists
"Bikes are here to stay" - quote from someone in this video, I Love this! Wicked great 2 question approach and Awesome results. This is one of the greatest videos to come out of Sea Otter 2023. - M
What do you have in mind? Despite having bike lanes and cyclist accomodations on roads in my country it still isn't particularly safe to ride over here. On the other hand, some of the gravel path that were specific to bikes and pedestrians are now paved. Is that better? I don't know, I kinda like gravel roads.
@@ifrit35 Make the roads safer for all road users? Don't just shrug and say, we're just recreational cyclists, so we'll just drive to the trail and play there, then drive home.
I love what the folks here say, including the topics other than gravel bikes. Yes to steel frames, randonneur style riding, throwing stuff in a front basket, not worrying about bike weight, the right to repair, yes to everything.
I saved up my money from mowing lawns to buy buy a 1992 Shogun Trailbreaker 2. Designed MTB trails didn't exist in my area in rural Australia. I was about 8, and my friends and I rode our bikes everywhere. Sealed roads, fire trails, through paddocks, down walking tracks, on footpaths. Since then I've been chasing that vibe. Found it on a cheap gravel bike. Gravel bikes were always there - we've just rediscovered them.
Whenever I am in a conversation about bikes and the other party starts talking about weight and how his bike weighs only 'this' much. I usually tell them to pedal harder and pedal farther and they they have a good 10kgs they can shed.
My friends and I are all old men who ride steel bikes in Oregon and its great to see the old and young guys embracing fun, practicality and usability over tech, riding costumes, etc. Just get on your bike and blast around, do errands, ride over to friends houses, go swimming, take food, drink beer, whatever! First Rivendell then Surly started promoting steel bikes, fun and practicality over everything else and just so great to see it catching fire with young people. One question: Where are the bike gals and their opinions? Equal Opportunity brother!
Can’t help imagining this video ending with you wrapping up your on-the-scene interviews by passing back to Laura, who’s seated behind the desk at the news room.
Mini Velo, Steel, DIY fixable bikes. Gravel seems to be a response to bikes trending toward racing in their designs and those bikes only being good at road racing. Wider tires allow more accessibility. Bikes 50 -100 years ago were mostly gravel type bikes cause of the riding surfaces available then.
I've tried gravel but have now gone back to a short travel XC bike. For decades the MTB was the go anywhere bike but drop bars are more aero so I understand the shift to allroad bikes. For me, one bike that will go anywhere, comfortably, at a pace I can live with, is what I wanted and I've found that gravel bikes are either over-geared or too harsh for where I ride. They also lose grip too easily off road (a lack of skill on my part no doubt).
The city and suburban roads in the Northeast are so bad and rough that a gravel bike makes way more sense on those surfaces. Once you try a thick tire on busted Boston-area pavement you never go back to old school 700c wheels
Terrific show because you talked to real bike people and asked pertinent questions.loved hearing the responses about daily use and cost consciousness. There are really nice bikes there but I would not dream of buying one as they are too costly and probably not something I'd ride daily.
I'm old so take that into consideration. Three speed internal hub gearing. Alt or swept back handlebars. V-brakes, they work! Steel frames with 26" wheels. Single speed bikes with 25mm tires, so much fun on the street.
After having really started riding back in 2009, the biggest change I have seen is the danger on roads. Car drivers are much more distracted now with phones and other gizmos in cars. That more than anything made people want to ride more on trails and paths more than roads. I was one of those people who first got a simple MTB, but wanted to go faster and ended up on a road bike. Just a few months later, I bought a road bike as a second bike to go faster and on longer charity rides. What I really wanted was a all-road/gravel kind of bike that had a bit more road geometry and weight, but still with bigger tires to absorb bumps on the road and light gravel trails. The only option then was a more expensive CX bike which I looked really hard at, but decided to pass on. Then I started seeing "gravel" bikes around 2018, I knew that was a bike I was looking more for. After getting a gravel bike in 2019, I really stopped riding my other bikes almost instantly. It was a long-road rider, commuter, trail trekker all in one bike. Something I couldn't do with first 2 bikes. Not sure why it took so long for manufacturers to figure out that they could simply just put bigger tires on road bikes and a bit more relaxed geometry have a whole new market. I have drop-bars on my gravel bike, but I also like my MTB flat handlebars with the "horns" on the end to give me a second hand position. That is something I don't see many people talk about much, They just go straight flat or to a road-drop bar.
Much better than horns on the end are inner bar ends. I.e. horns inside the grips. Gives a more aero alternative hand position almost like hoods on a road bike and you can still reach the brakes.
@@marcelmuller8166 With my broad shoulders, I like my arms to be more wide. I could ride all day on those wide vertical grips. Feels like the vertical position on drop bars, except I don't have to bend over as much which is better for my back these days. If I was racing and really need aero, I would definitely go with a more tucked in position. But on my old 26" mtb, I don't need it that much.
The question about gravel bikes only pertains to the "industry". Cyclists have been riding gravel for 150 years now and just because the manufacturers are cashing in on renewed interest does not mean it's a "fad". Gravel riding IS cycling. Bike companies do not define the culture as much as they try to unless we let them.
But the industry got everyone fooled that you "need" a gravel bike to ride, um, ride gravel. And people suck it up. It's like the horrible word "downcountry". Apparently a "trail" bike or even an XC can't be ridden around downcountry-ish.
@@MTBr-of-SoCal truth! Ride whatever bike you have everywhere you can and chances are you will have a good time. As long as your butt is on the bike and the tires are on the ground (most of the time) you are doing it right.
A sausage feast. This reflects badly on the state of women in cycling in the US when a video of 10 minutes can interview countless shop owners/ employees and there is no view point from half the population of the world.
I just ordered my first gravel bike, it'll be here on May 8th. I'm 52, but I feel like a little kid counting the minutes until Xmas! (I currently mtb & bikejor but my roots are roadie) I can't wait to have a drop-bar again!
Just want to stop by and thank Russ for his review on the Surly Midnight special a couple years ago. That review helped me decide to build one. Glad I did. Spent a bloody fortune with GRX Di2 etc , but well worth it. Very versatile tough bike, fast on the roads with 700c 28-32mm and good on the gravel with fast MTB 27.5 XC tyres for gravel and MTB trails.
Hope you'll cover Box Components. Re: gravel. Depends on the surface of course, but dirt/gravel roads can be more forgiving, and they're usually quieter. All the best.
Great video, Russ and Laura. I saw a lot of familiar faces of people that I had some conversations with and some people and brands that I didn’t get to see or find. I really enjoyed talking to the guy from Passchier about his bamboo handlebars and told him about the Paul Comp/ Sierra Nevada Mone bike and raffle. He had no idea it was so close to his booth and he could literally see it. He went over and checked it out and was blown away by it. Then I was also reminded by your video that I forgot to talk to the guy from Old Man Emu/ Loam & Gravel. I spoke to him last year and he’s great guy. I completely missed their booth this year, but considering the size of the expo, it’s easy to do.
So stoked to hear all these folks saying stuff I agree with and what I believe in myself. I do see an underlying issue that they said all the main points about cycling today, REDICULOUS prices, proprietary components, no versatility, etc. I love my steel road bikes, but seriously at this point it's a no brainer my next steel vintage bike will be gravel based. PLUS building up bikes with old components is the best way to recycle too.
I actually bought a cheap adventure/gravel bike. Not for our dirt roads, for the horrible paving practices away from huge metro areas in Texas. State All Road. Another reason is the steel frame. I’m mid 60s and need less high frequency vibration. So “gravel bikes” or “adventure bikes” are probably here to stay. Maybe by another name. Interesting interviews. Take care!
Ironically where I live the rural rides are almost certainly more dangerous - not only are there ni shoulders much of the time, but if Bubba and his Truk want to take a swing at you there are no witnesses.
Totally agree with the guy on bells. Especially in rail trails and especially for speed riders that think they are Lance Armstrong and come up on you out of knowhere. Grav Grav should be called No Car Cars because I think that's the real appeal.
not really. I have had more people pay attention when I speak up with "on your left" or "coming up behind you", over the bell. 99% of people I ran across that hears my bell look around wondering where the bell sound is coming from, while the rest don't even care.
@@OutThere42 I actually do sometimes. I always keep a bell on my bike but don't use it as much due to what I mentioned. I'm def not against the bells and am a big proponent of it. Got one for each of my 3 bikes. Just from experience, vocals are better.
With ear buds and cell phones, not to mention people actually moving to their left when I have said on your left, I like a bell to get their attention, then I say “hello, on your left”
Going from a hard tail to a drop bar off road has made a huge difference to my cycling. I hate riding long distances on roads and a mountain bike with suspension is totally wasted on me. It’s great that there’s so much choice out there now and if you really do your research most riding styles are within reach.
I remember when MTBs first started getting front suspension. It was something you were told you needed, by manufacturers and magazines etc. But mountain bikes don't have to have suspension, rigid MTBs are great fun and very usuable, although many manufacturers don't agree, because most want to follow trends. Neither does a comfortable, multipurpose, multi-terrain bike need drop handlebars. The '90s "Hybrid" bike craze proved that. The beauty of the bicycle is that they are versatile, they can be chosen and adapted to suit your individual needs. Sometimes relative simplicity is better than ultra capable butvcomplicated.
I think there is an easy way to think about gravel bikes. They are very similar to the old style MTBs. but as MTBs became more capable, stretching the limits of what the industry can make they went on to tougher terrains. The fact tho is that not everyone, especially not hobby cyclists want to rip down the steepest and roughest routs where their life is in danger. For most trails the MTBs of 2020s are too capable and most people don't find it challenging therefore they brought back a bike that is faster because of the narrow drop bars and the geometry. however, they cannot handle a rough DH course of course. but again we spiral back because they are starting to introduce suspensions to gravel bikes meaning they are making them more capable just like the first MTBs... and in a few years they will be too capable for the terrain most people ride and they will turn back to something a little similar to old MTBs. So in that sense, gravel is forever ... :)
Great reporting and bicycle trend coverage. Sorry I did not see you at the Sea Otter, I was in the back country watching out for injured contestants or those who chose to DNF or had mechanical problems and needed to be SAGed out. The Fuego and Gravilla XC events were tough.
Loved the interviews! Yes, the consensus is that gravel is here to stay. I agree, and maybe one day it won't be called gravel biking, but the fundamentals of the medium will endure.
Many have been riding the Pennsylvania gravel roads, logging and fire roads since 1984. As the paved roads have increased in danger folks have shifted to back dirt roads.
I love the fact more people are rooting for sub 2k bikes in the industry and also that ATB is taking off like it is. When I bought my Kona unit X back in November of 22, I had no idea how much that bike would impact my riding style. The unit x went from curiosity to my main bike. I love nothing more then using the same rig for a 40 mile mixed ride with friends in the morning, afternoon or night. I also would love to see more slope/dirt jump style bikes at local single track or pump tracks. I absolutely love the ability to spice things up on a familiar trail with all the homies on single speed 26” wheels! Everyone is at the same handicap and you hit more features you would otherwise skip on a 29” mtb.
The fact that there are no women or POC or disabled riders interviewed really gives you a good understanding of the limitations of current cycling culture. Don't ask if gravel bikes are here to stay, ask how they are including more people in cycling and listening to their needs and building bikes and bike infrastructure for them.
1:30 I feel offended by that statement. As a Swiss i know exactly how 100g feels! It’s exactly one bar of chocolate. That being said, i completely agree with the red shift guy. We should be obsessed with weight. That applies to bike weight and body weight alike.
I think as far as most of us ride the prices are WAY to high. I’d like to see bottom tube shifting back on road bikes and a resurgence of steel frames, rim rakes and simpler mechanics.
That's what I'm all about. Anti high price, downtube shifters, rim brakes and steel frames! It's seriously so cost effective, you wind up recycling, and your ride is so unique.
My $350 Gary Fisher Wahoo AL hardtaril from around 2005 is still going strong with almost no maintnenace over the years. Just put a little extra air in the tires and it doesn't ride that much different than my $3000 Kona Libre. Ok it's different but I can have the same amount of enjoyment going out in the country and just relaxing.
You can cut costs without down tube shifters I would argue or debate that rapid shift or thumb shifters are just as economical as downtube shifting; that’s not the issue with the cost of bikes today.
I started using a bell on my bike, when I was trying to pass a lady with her dog on the bike path, but my mouth was as dry as a sand dune to yell out on "Your left!", after 73 miles with no water, lol. I learned my lesson.
@@daniellarson3068 Yes. This is why it needs to be normalized, so bike path users understand it and expect it. It is a pleasure riding in an area where bells are accepted and frequently used. A nice bell with a loud ding can be given at a much greater distance than an 'on your left'.
@@fasanojp It's a safety thing and there for a reason, but the bell has a commanding presence. It is like an order from the Aristocracy to jump aside. I've also noted bell users are often reluctant to give a simple hello or similar greeting as they pass. Adults told me long ago many times when I was a kid, "You've got a bad attitude." They may be right once again. I'm one of the bike path users that do not wish to be conditioned like Pavlov's dogs.
Yes!! Cargo bikes, I love my Omnium V3. I ride it daily, and my dog's favorite words are, "do you want to go for a ride?" In the last week I rode the Barry Roubaix on it then Scout and I did an overnight on the Greenbrier River Trail.
Re: the Redshift guy talking about less emphasis on weight. I have a single speed road bike that's pretty stripped down and weighs 15lb with pedals and cages (don't hate, it's fun. I also have a heavy gravel-touring bike and an 80s ATB), but it has a heavy Redshift stem on it because the comfort gain is worth way more than the imperceptible weight penalty.
My teenagerbike was just a bike. Trygg Golden Flash. It had a 5 cog cassette, not dropbar and halfskinny tyres (I guess something like 35 or 40mm). It was a typical allround and gravelbike. Of course the allroundsegment will stay. We can call it gravel, allround or whatever. One segment that has got less focus recently is semicompact mountainbikes with semismall wheels. MTb with 26" wheels. Those wheels are actually very good and so small that I can lay down the backseat in my car and put the bike in without removing a wheel.
I think road and mountain bikes have gone too far to the extremes for a lot of people, plus not everyone wants to need to own 3,4,5+ bikes that all have specialized purposes. I like that "gravel" bikes (despite the stupid name, IMO) are basically representing what we used to just call a "bike". Like one of the interviewees said, as a kid you just had a bike; you didn't worry about whether that was the "correct" bike for what you had planned to ride.
@@YippeeSkippie426 To the bike industry at the moment, that's mostly true. I guess I was speaking more about the general concept of a flexible bike. Personally, I dislike 1x systems outside of a full MTB, and I also think flat/alt bars are better on bumpy terrain than drops (many gravel roads near me are so hard packed+washboarded/etc from car traffic that even 50mm plush tires can't make drop bars all that comfortable)
Agreed! My Journeyman replaced my MTB/Commuter bike and my road bike. I am also not a fan of the term "gravel bike" as I hardly ride on any gravel. I use it mostly as a road bike with bigger tires and rack mounts that can handle rough roads/paths and more weight for bags.
I'd like to see the term gravel bike go away and just call drop bar bikes that fit fatter tires or have some added suspension "all road" or "all-terrain." Then again, a Toronto-based bike co at Sea Otter was displaying an aero road bike that can fit 40c.
Have you seen the Ateliers HeritageBikes? Very resto mod, old stylings but modern tech and some with belt drives. Resto mod seems more an automotive trend since in the bike world it's hard to achieve certain stylings without sacrificing functionality, but it'd be incredible if more brands attempted that sort of thing.
Great stuff thanks. Interesting comment on the smaller bikes. I’ve just moved form a 5 bed to a 2 bed place and from a double to a single garage and I’ve discovered bikes are BIG 😂
Gravel is amazing, 5 years for me, away from cars, gives me the freedom to explore, the ability to ride pretty much anywhere which is the calling for many of us.
When my wife and i traveled we found it tough to ride on trails with stones, so we got new tires to be more all purpose. This is going to be the trend for seniors who don't want to load a bike onto a vehicle, an all purpose bike is always going to be more useful.
One trend I would like to see in cycling: take your litter home with you (or collect some along the way like I do). There is a steep road climb in my area, and there are little energy drink bottles discarded on the verges just after the top of the climb (obviously thrown by other cyclists). Is gravel here to stay? With all the potholes on our roads in the UK, I would not risk riding a narrow tyre bike, a gravel tyre width would be my absolute minimum (and there are many unsealed surface routes to add into a ride).
I'd say the one trend I would really like to see take off in the U.S. would be better, safer and expanded bike infrastructure and outreach. To the point where we can see a ton more women, young and old people, of every persuasion, and most importantly kids, all feeling safe enough to ride their bikes almost anywhere they want. So that the next time you go out to interview folks at Sea Otter it's not just 30+ yo guys in the industry that are only able to answer that question. Saying this as a middle-aged guy with a family, I want my wife and kids to be able to feel comfortable riding out in the world like I do and did growing up.
Gravel is here to stay. Lots of great gravel and otherwise unpaved roads to ride on. And thanks to the phone the roads are not safe. My '68 Cinelli is in many ways a gravel bike. Clearance for fat tires, relaxed geometry. The low gears of today's bikes are awesome.
I have always found mountain bikes too much and road bikes not enough for the roads I like to ride. Gravel bikes hit the sweet spot for me. 2021 Specialized Crux hits sweet spot for me (endurance road geometry with wide tyre clearance).
Definitely agree with the sustainability aspect! And I do think weight matters. So many of the new bikes are built like tanks. Uses up more materials and means that batteries have to be more powerful just to move the behemoths around. What is also glaringly obvious in this video is the dearth of women in the biking business. Nothing but guys with sunglasses and baseball hats!
Gravel bikes, I ride an old Moulton APB, which allows me to ride road and trail. The flexible multi purpose bike of whatever styling is here to stay for a long time.
I love gravel but back in the early 2010s Midwest crit racing here in Michigan and Indiana was really taking off then it disappeared. It's hard to find a more spectator friendly version of cycling and it's the most adrenaline packed racing by far.
We’ll done! Loved the cycling thru interviews with bike folks. New trend I’d like to see: More women voices throughout the industry. And represent half of the market guys!!
I avoid roads because the cars make me nervous. Technical single-track is beyond my capabilities (as a 70 year old with limited mobility). The rail trails and canal paths (i.e., Delaware and Raritan Bike Path) allow me to get lots of miles in relative safety. I see and enjoy nature while getting much needed exercise.
I briefly worked at a typical shop not long ago. I remember the sales person (who doesn't ride, like the other sales people) saying that gravel is just a fad. He didn't even know about the miles of trails and dirt roads in the immediate vicinity.
sounds like a cousin of the guy at the bike store that closed in my town, when I told him I was looking for full sus mtbs he was all "what do you need suspension for! you don't need suspension!" not even asking me what I'm riding and where etc etc
Always felt like modern day gravel is what hybrid bikes were always meant to be. Gravel bikes is such a huge category now the average person will have no idea where to start lol
Great video and the 2 questions were simple but I love every response. More cargo bikes, more environmentally friendly bikes, more bikes with swap out components, all the things that WE as cyclists, would want to hear. How do I find out where the Sea Otter shows are located? Looks like my kind of Vahala.
The first bikes in our area was 1887 called dirt trail bikes since there was no such thing as gravel... dirt trail bikes are the best... either you were riding it or ended up pushing it depending on the terrain or if it rained... there are alot of miles of bike-pushing in our area over the years
I think the gentleman who wished we would stop worrying about grams missed the flipside of that discussion, which is that we should stop worrying about aero. Aero can seem cool, but most of the numbers reported in any article about aero marginal gains usually quote studies done at speeds that most recreational can't really hold. (Also, while you shouldn't be a weight weenie and worry about saving 60 g on a carbon stem, quality rims, tire and inflation choice can save a bunch of weight while improving your ride quality.)
You know, I agree with the longer I'm into cycling, the more beginner and mid-tier bikes I like. I realized I don't need Ultegra, 105 etc specced bikes. If it works and it's easily serviceable, I like it.
I've been seeing a "Panasonic ATB" sitting outside my local coffee joint, and just looked it up today: 1986, not really a gravel bike, no drop bars and 26 wheels but definitely looks likes like some of these, well, ATBs that are coming out now
Another "Gravel bikes are here to stay" from me! I think they're ESPECIALLY here to stay now that they've been fully adopted by the roadies. It seems most of the gravel bikes out there are now just road bikes with fat tyres. Most gravel bikes I see in the wild are something like a Cervelo Aspero ridden by a dude in head to toe lycra, who usually don't talk to me, BUT when we do chat they generally turn their nose up at my steel frame and think that it's some piece of junk. It blows their mind when I point out the 2.25" tyres. Gravel bikes have been a very mainstream part of cycling for a long time now, for better or worse.
I'd like to see higher bar height. Travel bikes are an extension of the original drop bar touring with disk brake. They were designed to go on most surfaces. Originally folk travelled lighter before gadgets & panniers. Nothings is new in the cycling work only the marketing blurb.
As much as I like compact bikes the problem is the small wheel size. They can never give the same comfort as a standard wheel especially in poor roads.
I would like to see suspension on Gravel bikes 🚲!!! I have a Mountain bike that I ride once a week to work but, it’s not as fast as a gravel bike!!! Plus after riding a gravel bike with no suspension for 2 days to work my joints were killing me.!
Gravel is indeed here to stay. Not just for the safety aspect from the car traffic, but the lack of noise is a huge thing. Also gravel roads take you closer to nature and the different gravel surfaces give you that much needed variety on your ride. 😄
*sigh* I miss my hometown of Salinas, CA. Literally 10-15 mins away from the sea otter classic trail. For those out there, make sure to stop by Capitola! Literally paradise on earth.
Something no one mentioned is that the terrain on gravel roads is more interesting because it hasn’t been engineered like a paved road has to be. The hills are steeper. The trees are closer. The curves can be more ‘severe’. When a municipality paves a road it has to meet safety specs that ultimately make it bland and boring by removing almost all of the character. Gravel roads don’t have to meet those standards, which makes them more fun/interesting to ride on.
That Wolf Tooth guy is spot on about repairability. Very refreshing to hear that from a company rep!
Last fall I broke my wolf tooth dropper post lever on a crash. It was the axle that snapped on impact. I was very surprised to see that I could buy the spare part for 10€ instead of buying a whole new assembly. In the US it will probably be even cheaper since they are manufacturing there afaik.
Made me a bigger fan of WT stuff than I already was!
I spent some time at the Wolf Tooth booth at a few fest around where im at and i always would go back because their people were always the most down to earth and real!
Well said. Enough Proprietary bullshit. even with tools.
@RollinRat i agree totally. however a fixed gear is like driving one gear car... yeah you dont have to worry about a transmission failing but sometimes you gotta weigh the good with the bad. and what you are willing to compromise. try living in pittsburgh with a one gear bike and riding up and down mount washington! lol rarely does my bike break down if you keep the upkeep. and even then things ware. always going to be maintenance, with anything that has moving parts.
This is the best approach to a trade show: ask disarming questions that allow vendors to share their true bike selves. Thought-provoking!
if you have no thoughts of your own!
@@chadbarbaro are you upset?
Gravel bikes are a rediscovery of what made 90's XC mountain biking so rad. It really was Cross Country at first, which then morphed into XC racing. At some point we added FS, then "all-mountain" came into play, then 29ers, then groomed downhill courses. They changed the point that mixed-surface riding wasn't as much fun and you drove to the trail instead of exploring.
Oh, sure, so correct “drove to the trail” is a thing should never happen with bike.. Bikes should always just ride to wherever by itself.
@@mohongzhi biking to your destination is way more fun
I just did the full service for my fullsusser and it cost me a whopping 500 euros, glad I have my gravel bike that I can maintain myself and even if i was to bring it to the LBS it would cost me a 100.- at most…
@@mohongzhi I still do plenty of mixed surface riding on my hardtail mtb, but it's not the same experience as going to a mtb specific trail. It's like saying, "why drive to a hiking trail when you could just walk around your neighborhood?" I do try to offset driving to the trail by living close enough to my job to bike commute.
@@mikemichaels4500 True, that not what i mentioned. I will have to drive to nearest hill or mountain cause it's at least 200km away a couple of times every year. What i mean is we just don't really need to drive like 20km and do the trial ride and drive back home these kind of things. Drive there should be it really just save lots of time.
So much truth spoken here! Exploring, not caring too much about weight, the dangers of main roads, fixing your own bike, having more of a generalist bike.. Really explains why I love my Kona Sutra!
boring
I wish I had a Kona Sutra! I bought a Canyon Grail a few years ago, and while it's a great gravel bike, it's ill-suited to touring, what's with its carbon handlebar and fork, and total lack of thinking about storage options. So I'm stuck now, while Kona Sutra sounds like the exact fit for my touring/gravel/commute needs.
Except weight does matter. Went from a 24 lb Niner RLT 9 steel (that bike sucked) to a 19 lb titanium Merlin Sandstone, and it's so much nicer on the steeper gradients. I'd prefer a pound or two lighter, but titanium is a no-brainer for a gravel bike. Carbon is great if you get your bikes for free.
Regarding fixing your own bike: it really isn't hard, and a complete bicycle tool box is not expensive. The dude at 2:00 is wrong, though: your local mechanic does mind walking you through this stuff. Because you're basically asking him to teach you not to pay him. You want a competent repair shop around, do the guys solid and give them some work. But don't expect them to run a business for you to scrounge their know-how. You can get that easily here on youtube.
I ordered a titanium road frame over 11 years ago and ask the manufacturer to put 45c tire clearance on it and it’s finally in style lol
Gnarly! 🤟
That was a good move lol
Bells, yes! I have a bell on my road bike and use it mostly on multi-use trails. The response from people is very positive. A bell is much more friendly that yelling out "On your left!" Bells are happy!
My typical encounter reaction from when I use my bell is this: the pedestrian I am trying to warn will most likely have earbuds in, BUT - the rare occasion they don't have them in they will instead look at their phone trying to figure out what alarm is going off. A sound that has never emanated from their device will still trigger this auto-response action. Nearly every time in my area. That said I still ring that thing regardless and simply plan on giving them a very wide berth since I don't want to crash into the stupefied device user desperately trying to locate the annoying app making that awful ringing sound.
I like to think of Gravel bikes as more sensible road bikes.
wow, earth-shattering
For decades plenty or riders just rode road bikes on dirt roads. the "scene" of "gravel" is definitely a fad, replacing cylcocross and XC mountain biking before that, and something else will come along in the future.
@@chadbarbaro Are you upset?
@@Driver8takeabreak Most of the roads in Vermont are dirt, most roadies used CX bikes for decades here. I don't see how it could possibly be a fad if you live where there are a lot of dirt roads. Gravel bikes have been a thing for a decade now. Riding dirt is better in a lot of ways compared to paved...less cars, more scenic, more climbing and generally dirt roads have a lot steeper grades. It's actually generally more comfortable too in areas that have a lot of dirt and paved roads, since those are often in colder climates which have terrible paved road surfaces. Dirt roads often become very smooth for most of the summer, but even with that, road bikes are absolute shit for riding dirt. Come up to 5 miles of freshly graded dirt road (common thing here)? Good luck with your 28s....been there, it sucks ass.
@@Driver8takeabreak My gravel bike has always been the road bike I raced that had just been replaced by a new one. I just needed to change the wheels for a set of touring wheels and I had a new 'gravel' bike for shopping and towing a trailer for camping and such and for treating badly on fire trails.
Very interesting. Thanks! Many speakers talk about safety (or rather the lack of safety when sharing the road with cars). Hopefully someday we'll see some real changes in our way of life - the ubiquitous and all-powerful car culture, among other things... It's a lot of fun to ride off-road, but I don't don't think that's the solution to the dangers of sharing the road with cars (increasingly big and filled with "electronic distractions") for cyclists
"Bikes are here to stay" - quote from someone in this video, I Love this! Wicked great 2 question approach and Awesome results. This is one of the greatest videos to come out of Sea Otter 2023. - M
Agreed. Gravel bikes are adventure bikes. I love that so much more riding opened up to me once I got wider tires and better geometry.
I love the Wolf Tooth guy :) Glad because their products are great
he was totally on meds
All this "gravel is here to stay, cos the roads are dangerous..." is so sad. We really need to sort this out!
?
What do you have in mind? Despite having bike lanes and cyclist accomodations on roads in my country it still isn't particularly safe to ride over here.
On the other hand, some of the gravel path that were specific to bikes and pedestrians are now paved. Is that better? I don't know, I kinda like gravel roads.
@@ifrit35 Make the roads safer for all road users? Don't just shrug and say, we're just recreational cyclists, so we'll just drive to the trail and play there, then drive home.
This comment hurt. 8 of 10 times i hop on my bike it's to run errands on dangerous roads.
Says a lot about car-centric environment.
I love what the folks here say, including the topics other than gravel bikes. Yes to steel frames, randonneur style riding, throwing stuff in a front basket, not worrying about bike weight, the right to repair, yes to everything.
these clerks are just booth dorks, talk to someone informed
@@chadbarbaro you’re a Chad
I saved up my money from mowing lawns to buy buy a 1992 Shogun Trailbreaker 2. Designed MTB trails didn't exist in my area in rural Australia. I was about 8, and my friends and I rode our bikes everywhere. Sealed roads, fire trails, through paddocks, down walking tracks, on footpaths. Since then I've been chasing that vibe. Found it on a cheap gravel bike. Gravel bikes were always there - we've just rediscovered them.
Major props to Wolf Tooth, we could all use a little more right to repair in our lives 👍👍👍
All hail the guy who said he wishes for people to stop worrying about weight on their bikes!🤘
Whenever I am in a conversation about bikes and the other party starts talking about weight and how his bike weighs only 'this' much. I usually tell them to pedal harder and pedal farther and they they have a good 10kgs they can shed.
I asked some bikes and they are worried about the weight of people 😅
My friends and I are all old men who ride steel bikes in Oregon and its great to see the old and young guys embracing fun, practicality and usability over tech, riding costumes, etc.
Just get on your bike and blast around, do errands, ride over to friends houses, go swimming, take food, drink beer, whatever!
First Rivendell then Surly started promoting steel bikes, fun and practicality over everything else and just so great to see it catching fire with young people.
One question: Where are the bike gals and their opinions? Equal Opportunity brother!
Can’t help imagining this video ending with you wrapping up your on-the-scene interviews by passing back to Laura, who’s seated behind the desk at the news room.
Mini Velo, Steel, DIY fixable bikes. Gravel seems to be a response to bikes trending toward racing in their designs and those bikes only being good at road racing. Wider tires allow more accessibility. Bikes 50 -100 years ago were mostly gravel type bikes cause of the riding surfaces available then.
I've tried gravel but have now gone back to a short travel XC bike. For decades the MTB was the go anywhere bike but drop bars are more aero so I understand the shift to allroad bikes. For me, one bike that will go anywhere, comfortably, at a pace I can live with, is what I wanted and I've found that gravel bikes are either over-geared or too harsh for where I ride. They also lose grip too easily off road (a lack of skill on my part no doubt).
The city and suburban roads in the Northeast are so bad and rough that a gravel bike makes way more sense on those surfaces. Once you try a thick tire on busted Boston-area pavement you never go back to old school 700c wheels
Terrific show because you talked to real bike people and asked pertinent questions.loved hearing the responses about daily use and cost consciousness. There are really nice bikes there but I would not dream of buying one as they are too costly and probably not something I'd ride daily.
I'm old so take that into consideration. Three speed internal hub gearing. Alt or swept back handlebars. V-brakes, they work! Steel frames with 26" wheels. Single speed bikes with 25mm tires, so much fun on the street.
3speed internal gears are the best, one for uphill, one for flat and one for speed.
After having really started riding back in 2009, the biggest change I have seen is the danger on roads. Car drivers are much more distracted now with phones and other gizmos in cars. That more than anything made people want to ride more on trails and paths more than roads. I was one of those people who first got a simple MTB, but wanted to go faster and ended up on a road bike. Just a few months later, I bought a road bike as a second bike to go faster and on longer charity rides. What I really wanted was a all-road/gravel kind of bike that had a bit more road geometry and weight, but still with bigger tires to absorb bumps on the road and light gravel trails. The only option then was a more expensive CX bike which I looked really hard at, but decided to pass on. Then I started seeing "gravel" bikes around 2018, I knew that was a bike I was looking more for. After getting a gravel bike in 2019, I really stopped riding my other bikes almost instantly. It was a long-road rider, commuter, trail trekker all in one bike. Something I couldn't do with first 2 bikes. Not sure why it took so long for manufacturers to figure out that they could simply just put bigger tires on road bikes and a bit more relaxed geometry have a whole new market. I have drop-bars on my gravel bike, but I also like my MTB flat handlebars with the "horns" on the end to give me a second hand position. That is something I don't see many people talk about much, They just go straight flat or to a road-drop bar.
Much better than horns on the end are inner bar ends. I.e. horns inside the grips. Gives a more aero alternative hand position almost like hoods on a road bike and you can still reach the brakes.
noob!
@@chadbarbaro ?
@@marcelmuller8166 With my broad shoulders, I like my arms to be more wide. I could ride all day on those wide vertical grips. Feels like the vertical position on drop bars, except I don't have to bend over as much which is better for my back these days. If I was racing and really need aero, I would definitely go with a more tucked in position. But on my old 26" mtb, I don't need it that much.
The question about gravel bikes only pertains to the "industry". Cyclists have been riding gravel for 150 years now and just because the manufacturers are cashing in on renewed interest does not mean it's a "fad". Gravel riding IS cycling. Bike companies do not define the culture as much as they try to unless we let them.
But the industry got everyone fooled that you "need" a gravel bike to ride, um, ride gravel. And people suck it up. It's like the horrible word "downcountry". Apparently a "trail" bike or even an XC can't be ridden around downcountry-ish.
@@MTBr-of-SoCal truth! Ride whatever bike you have everywhere you can and chances are you will have a good time. As long as your butt is on the bike and the tires are on the ground (most of the time) you are doing it right.
A sausage feast. This reflects badly on the state of women in cycling in the US when a video of 10 minutes can interview countless shop owners/ employees and there is no view point from half the population of the world.
Thank you for interviewing Restrap. I saw their booth at Sea Otter. They have fantastic products, particularly the bike backpack.
I just ordered my first gravel bike, it'll be here on May 8th. I'm 52, but I feel like a little kid counting the minutes until Xmas! (I currently mtb & bikejor but my roots are roadie) I can't wait to have a drop-bar again!
Just want to stop by and thank Russ for his review on the Surly Midnight special a couple years ago. That review helped me decide to build one. Glad I did. Spent a bloody fortune with GRX Di2 etc , but well worth it. Very versatile tough bike, fast on the roads with 700c 28-32mm and good on the gravel with fast MTB 27.5 XC tyres for gravel and MTB trails.
Hope you'll cover Box Components.
Re: gravel. Depends on the surface of course, but dirt/gravel roads can be more forgiving, and they're usually quieter. All the best.
Great video, Russ and Laura. I saw a lot of familiar faces of people that I had some conversations with and some people and brands that I didn’t get to see or find. I really enjoyed talking to the guy from Passchier about his bamboo handlebars and told him about the Paul Comp/ Sierra Nevada Mone bike and raffle. He had no idea it was so close to his booth and he could literally see it. He went over and checked it out and was blown away by it. Then I was also reminded by your video that I forgot to talk to the guy from Old Man Emu/ Loam & Gravel. I spoke to him last year and he’s great guy. I completely missed their booth this year, but considering the size of the expo, it’s easy to do.
So stoked to hear all these folks saying stuff I agree with and what I believe in myself. I do see an underlying issue that they said all the main points about cycling today, REDICULOUS prices, proprietary components, no versatility, etc. I love my steel road bikes, but seriously at this point it's a no brainer my next steel vintage bike will be gravel based. PLUS building up bikes with old components is the best way to recycle too.
moronic
I actually bought a cheap adventure/gravel bike. Not for our dirt roads, for the horrible paving practices away from huge metro areas in Texas. State All Road. Another reason is the steel frame. I’m mid 60s and need less high frequency vibration. So “gravel bikes” or “adventure bikes” are probably here to stay. Maybe by another name. Interesting interviews. Take care!
Threaded bottom brackets!!!
Ironically where I live the rural rides are almost certainly more dangerous - not only are there ni shoulders much of the time, but if Bubba and his Truk want to take a swing at you there are no witnesses.
Totally agree with the guy on bells. Especially in rail trails and especially for speed riders that think they are Lance Armstrong and come up on you out of knowhere. Grav Grav should be called No Car Cars because I think that's the real appeal.
Bells on bikes, yes! It's a friendlier method of saying clear the way and appreciated by pedestrians.
not really. I have had more people pay attention when I speak up with "on your left" or "coming up behind you", over the bell. 99% of people I ran across that hears my bell look around wondering where the bell sound is coming from, while the rest don't even care.
@@OutThere42 I actually do sometimes. I always keep a bell on my bike but don't use it as much due to what I mentioned. I'm def not against the bells and am a big proponent of it. Got one for each of my 3 bikes. Just from experience, vocals are better.
With ear buds and cell phones, not to mention people actually moving to their left when I have said on your left, I like a bell to get their attention, then I say “hello, on your left”
put mace on your bike or pepper spray instead
@@chadbarbaro LOL
Going from a hard tail to a drop bar off road has made a huge difference to my cycling. I hate riding long distances on roads and a mountain bike with suspension is totally wasted on me. It’s great that there’s so much choice out there now and if you really do your research most riding styles are within reach.
I remember when MTBs first started getting front suspension. It was something you were told you needed, by manufacturers and magazines etc. But mountain bikes don't have to have suspension, rigid MTBs are great fun and very usuable, although many manufacturers don't agree, because most want to follow trends. Neither does a comfortable, multipurpose, multi-terrain bike need drop handlebars. The '90s "Hybrid" bike craze proved that. The beauty of the bicycle is that they are versatile, they can be chosen and adapted to suit your individual needs. Sometimes relative simplicity is better than ultra capable butvcomplicated.
@@another3997 100% agree
Love the guy who said cycletrucks. I'd love to get one but that's currently such a small niche even in the small niche that is cargo bikes
I think there is an easy way to think about gravel bikes. They are very similar to the old style MTBs. but as MTBs became more capable, stretching the limits of what the industry can make they went on to tougher terrains. The fact tho is that not everyone, especially not hobby cyclists want to rip down the steepest and roughest routs where their life is in danger. For most trails the MTBs of 2020s are too capable and most people don't find it challenging therefore they brought back a bike that is faster because of the narrow drop bars and the geometry. however, they cannot handle a rough DH course of course. but again we spiral back because they are starting to introduce suspensions to gravel bikes meaning they are making them more capable just like the first MTBs... and in a few years they will be too capable for the terrain most people ride and they will turn back to something a little similar to old MTBs.
So in that sense, gravel is forever ... :)
Great reporting and bicycle trend coverage. Sorry I did not see you at the Sea Otter, I was in the back country watching out for injured contestants or those who chose to DNF or had mechanical problems and needed to be SAGed out. The Fuego and Gravilla XC events were tough.
You crushed it Russ.great vid! Love all the points made and all the insider perspectives.
Loved the interviews! Yes, the consensus is that gravel is here to stay. I agree, and maybe one day it won't be called gravel biking, but the fundamentals of the medium will endure.
It always has in differing descriptions/marketeering of bikes.
Many have been riding the Pennsylvania gravel roads, logging and fire roads since 1984. As the paved roads have increased in danger folks have shifted to back dirt roads.
I love the fact more people are rooting for sub 2k bikes in the industry and also that ATB is taking off like it is. When I bought my Kona unit X back in November of 22, I had no idea how much that bike would impact my riding style. The unit x went from curiosity to my main bike. I love nothing more then using the same rig for a 40 mile mixed ride with friends in the morning, afternoon or night. I also would love to see more slope/dirt jump style bikes at local single track or pump tracks. I absolutely love the ability to spice things up on a familiar trail with all the homies on single speed 26” wheels! Everyone is at the same handicap and you hit more features you would otherwise skip on a 29” mtb.
The fact that there are no women or POC or disabled riders interviewed really gives you a good understanding of the limitations of current cycling culture. Don't ask if gravel bikes are here to stay, ask how they are including more people in cycling and listening to their needs and building bikes and bike infrastructure for them.
1:30 I feel offended by that statement. As a Swiss i know exactly how 100g feels! It’s exactly one bar of chocolate.
That being said, i completely agree with the red shift guy. We should be obsessed with weight. That applies to bike weight and body weight alike.
I think as far as most of us ride the prices are WAY to high. I’d like to see bottom tube shifting back on road bikes and a resurgence of steel frames, rim rakes and simpler mechanics.
That's what I'm all about. Anti high price, downtube shifters, rim brakes and steel frames! It's seriously so cost effective, you wind up recycling, and your ride is so unique.
My $350 Gary Fisher Wahoo AL hardtaril from around 2005 is still going strong with almost no maintnenace over the years. Just put a little extra air in the tires and it doesn't ride that much different than my $3000 Kona Libre. Ok it's different but I can have the same amount of enjoyment going out in the country and just relaxing.
Yeah I miss my 1987 Nishiki Olympic 12 I worked all that summer to buy. Great memories.
You can cut costs without down tube shifters I would argue or debate that rapid shift or thumb shifters are just as economical as downtube shifting; that’s not the issue with the cost of bikes today.
It's called "downtube shifters".
What a fresh clip! Between you and Adventure Cyclist, cycling is enjoying a surge of innovation this season.
I find where I am on your left makes people step left. A bike bell gets people to move over.
I started using a bell on my bike, when I was trying to pass a lady with her dog on the bike path, but my mouth was as dry as a sand dune to yell out on "Your left!", after 73 miles with no water, lol. I learned my lesson.
I hate people coming up behind me on bells. It somehow seems far more rude than a simple declaration they are there. It seems far more impersonal.
@@daniellarson3068 Yes. This is why it needs to be normalized, so bike path users understand it and expect it. It is a pleasure riding in an area where bells are accepted and frequently used. A nice bell with a loud ding can be given at a much greater distance than an 'on your left'.
@@fasanojp It's a safety thing and there for a reason, but the bell has a commanding presence. It is like an order from the Aristocracy to jump aside. I've also noted bell users are often reluctant to give a simple hello or similar greeting as they pass. Adults told me long ago many times when I was a kid, "You've got a bad attitude." They may be right once again. I'm one of the bike path users that do not wish to be conditioned like Pavlov's dogs.
Love the people that don't go straight to selling their product. No, I still don't want a Brompton or an e-bike
Yes!! Cargo bikes, I love my Omnium V3. I ride it daily, and my dog's favorite words are, "do you want to go for a ride?" In the last week I rode the Barry Roubaix on it then Scout and I did an overnight on the Greenbrier River Trail.
eww
@@chadbarbaro ???
Re: the Redshift guy talking about less emphasis on weight. I have a single speed road bike that's pretty stripped down and weighs 15lb with pedals and cages (don't hate, it's fun. I also have a heavy gravel-touring bike and an 80s ATB), but it has a heavy Redshift stem on it because the comfort gain is worth way more than the imperceptible weight penalty.
My teenagerbike was just a bike. Trygg Golden Flash. It had a 5 cog cassette, not dropbar and halfskinny tyres (I guess something like 35 or 40mm). It was a typical allround and gravelbike. Of course the allroundsegment will stay. We can call it gravel, allround or whatever.
One segment that has got less focus recently is semicompact mountainbikes with semismall wheels. MTb with 26" wheels. Those wheels are actually very good and so small that I can lay down the backseat in my car and put the bike in without removing a wheel.
I think road and mountain bikes have gone too far to the extremes for a lot of people, plus not everyone wants to need to own 3,4,5+ bikes that all have specialized purposes. I like that "gravel" bikes (despite the stupid name, IMO) are basically representing what we used to just call a "bike". Like one of the interviewees said, as a kid you just had a bike; you didn't worry about whether that was the "correct" bike for what you had planned to ride.
To me, a "gravel bike" is just a cyclocross bike with disk brakes and a 1x
@@YippeeSkippie426 To the bike industry at the moment, that's mostly true. I guess I was speaking more about the general concept of a flexible bike. Personally, I dislike 1x systems outside of a full MTB, and I also think flat/alt bars are better on bumpy terrain than drops (many gravel roads near me are so hard packed+washboarded/etc from car traffic that even 50mm plush tires can't make drop bars all that comfortable)
@@crafty_matt - Agreed on all points.
Agreed! My Journeyman replaced my MTB/Commuter bike and my road bike. I am also not a fan of the term "gravel bike" as I hardly ride on any gravel. I use it mostly as a road bike with bigger tires and rack mounts that can handle rough roads/paths and more weight for bags.
@@YippeeSkippie426 To me, they’re a drop-bar hybrid. They’re different things to different people, that’s why they’re awesome
Tire clearance is here to stay! Across the board!
Two excellent questions.
Many great answers.
Thanks Russ.
I’m currently gravel biking in the Philippines and lots of XC hardtail’s that are like ATBs around here.
Thank you! Interesting viewpoints, great video
+1 bike fishing. Take time to enjoy your surroundings and not focus on how quickly you can complete a mtb trail or if you’ve improved your Strava time
Can we just call them All-Road bikes already?
audi won't let you do that
@@chadbarbaro There are already companies that do it and no issues with Audi yet. It's a category of bikes, not a model.
3:30 I've had bells on every bike for 60 years
I'd like to see the term gravel bike go away and just call drop bar bikes that fit fatter tires or have some added suspension "all road" or "all-terrain." Then again, a Toronto-based bike co at Sea Otter was displaying an aero road bike that can fit 40c.
Would love to see WW1 and WW2 reproduction bikes designed for all terrain practical transportation
Have you seen the Ateliers HeritageBikes? Very resto mod, old stylings but modern tech and some with belt drives. Resto mod seems more an automotive trend since in the bike world it's hard to achieve certain stylings without sacrificing functionality, but it'd be incredible if more brands attempted that sort of thing.
Great stuff thanks. Interesting comment on the smaller bikes. I’ve just moved form a 5 bed to a 2 bed place and from a double to a single garage and I’ve discovered bikes are BIG 😂
Gravel is amazing, 5 years for me, away from cars, gives me the freedom to explore, the ability to ride pretty much anywhere which is the calling for many of us.
When my wife and i traveled we found it tough to ride on trails with stones, so we got new tires to be more all purpose. This is going to be the trend for seniors who don't want to load a bike onto a vehicle, an all purpose bike is always going to be more useful.
One trend I would like to see in cycling: take your litter home with you (or collect some along the way like I do). There is a steep road climb in my area, and there are little energy drink bottles discarded on the verges just after the top of the climb (obviously thrown by other cyclists).
Is gravel here to stay? With all the potholes on our roads in the UK, I would not risk riding a narrow tyre bike, a gravel tyre width would be my absolute minimum (and there are many unsealed surface routes to add into a ride).
multi surface - great description from your wolf tooth guy & common theme- gravel to get away from the cars👍
Hearing all those people talking about not being save on the road makes me really sad! 😢
Unfortunately lots of drivers get anxious around bicycles on the road or get legitimately threatened by bikes
I'd say the one trend I would really like to see take off in the U.S. would be better, safer and expanded bike infrastructure and outreach. To the point where we can see a ton more women, young and old people, of every persuasion, and most importantly kids, all feeling safe enough to ride their bikes almost anywhere they want. So that the next time you go out to interview folks at Sea Otter it's not just 30+ yo guys in the industry that are only able to answer that question. Saying this as a middle-aged guy with a family, I want my wife and kids to be able to feel comfortable riding out in the world like I do and did growing up.
Gravel is here to stay. Lots of great gravel and otherwise unpaved roads to ride on. And thanks to the phone the roads are not safe. My '68 Cinelli is in many ways a gravel bike. Clearance for fat tires, relaxed geometry. The low gears of today's bikes are awesome.
Nice man! More content like this my man.
I have always found mountain bikes too much and road bikes not enough for the roads I like to ride. Gravel bikes hit the sweet spot for me. 2021 Specialized Crux hits sweet spot for me (endurance road geometry with wide tyre clearance).
like anybody cares
Definitely agree with the sustainability aspect! And I do think weight matters. So many of the new bikes are built like tanks. Uses up more materials and means that batteries have to be more powerful just to move the behemoths around. What is also glaringly obvious in this video is the dearth of women in the biking business. Nothing but guys with sunglasses and baseball hats!
Gravel bikes, I ride an old Moulton APB, which allows me to ride road and trail. The flexible multi purpose bike of whatever styling is here to stay for a long time.
I love gravel but back in the early 2010s Midwest crit racing here in Michigan and Indiana was really taking off then it disappeared. It's hard to find a more spectator friendly version of cycling and it's the most adrenaline packed racing by far.
Great video Rus. Great questions and very interesting answers from some unique industry representatives 👍
We’ll done! Loved the cycling thru interviews with bike folks. New trend I’d like to see: More women voices throughout the industry. And represent half of the market guys!!
Worked with Peter years ago! Cool guy, glad he’s still repping bromptons.
I avoid roads because the cars make me nervous. Technical single-track is beyond my capabilities (as a 70 year old with limited mobility). The rail trails and canal paths (i.e., Delaware and Raritan Bike Path) allow me to get lots of miles in relative safety. I see and enjoy nature while getting much needed exercise.
I briefly worked at a typical shop not long ago. I remember the sales person (who doesn't ride, like the other sales people) saying that gravel is just a fad. He didn't even know about the miles of trails and dirt roads in the immediate vicinity.
sounds like a cousin of the guy at the bike store that closed in my town, when I told him I was looking for full sus mtbs he was all "what do you need suspension for! you don't need suspension!" not even asking me what I'm riding and where etc etc
Always felt like modern day gravel is what hybrid bikes were always meant to be. Gravel bikes is such a huge category now the average person will have no idea where to start lol
Great video and the 2 questions were simple but I love every response. More cargo bikes, more environmentally friendly bikes, more bikes with swap out components, all the things that WE as cyclists, would want to hear. How do I find out where the Sea Otter shows are located? Looks like my kind of Vahala.
The first bikes in our area was 1887 called dirt trail bikes since there was no such thing as gravel... dirt trail bikes are the best... either you were riding it or ended up pushing it depending on the terrain or if it rained... there are alot of miles of bike-pushing in our area over the years
I think the gentleman who wished we would stop worrying about grams missed the flipside of that discussion, which is that we should stop worrying about aero. Aero can seem cool, but most of the numbers reported in any article about aero marginal gains usually quote studies done at speeds that most recreational can't really hold.
(Also, while you shouldn't be a weight weenie and worry about saving 60 g on a carbon stem, quality rims, tire and inflation choice can save a bunch of weight while improving your ride quality.)
5:03 mark hit the nail on the head, why I bought a gravel bike.
You know, I agree with the longer I'm into cycling, the more beginner and mid-tier bikes I like. I realized I don't need Ultegra, 105 etc specced bikes. If it works and it's easily serviceable, I like it.
I've been seeing a "Panasonic ATB" sitting outside my local coffee joint, and just looked it up today: 1986, not really a gravel bike, no drop bars and 26 wheels but definitely looks likes like some of these, well, ATBs that are coming out now
The Mountain Cat was an awesome Panasonic around then
Yes to the bells. I even ring it on the road at other cyclists who are too self absorbed to wave.
maybe they just hate you?
Another "Gravel bikes are here to stay" from me!
I think they're ESPECIALLY here to stay now that they've been fully adopted by the roadies. It seems most of the gravel bikes out there are now just road bikes with fat tyres.
Most gravel bikes I see in the wild are something like a Cervelo Aspero ridden by a dude in head to toe lycra, who usually don't talk to me, BUT when we do chat they generally turn their nose up at my steel frame and think that it's some piece of junk. It blows their mind when I point out the 2.25" tyres.
Gravel bikes have been a very mainstream part of cycling for a long time now, for better or worse.
It's the evolution of road cycling driven by traffic.
I'd like to see higher bar height. Travel bikes are an extension of the original drop bar touring with disk brake. They were designed to go on most surfaces. Originally folk travelled lighter before gadgets & panniers. Nothings is new in the cycling work only the marketing blurb.
As much as I like compact bikes the problem is the small wheel size. They can never give the same comfort as a standard wheel especially in poor roads.
I would like to see suspension on Gravel bikes 🚲!!! I have a Mountain bike that I ride once a week to work but, it’s not as fast as a gravel bike!!! Plus after riding a gravel bike with no suspension for 2 days to work my joints were killing me.!
Gravel is indeed here to stay. Not just for the safety aspect from the car traffic, but the lack of noise is a huge thing. Also gravel roads take you closer to nature and the different gravel surfaces give you that much needed variety on your ride. 😄
*sigh*
I miss my hometown of Salinas, CA. Literally 10-15 mins away from the sea otter classic trail.
For those out there, make sure to stop by Capitola! Literally paradise on earth.
I raced on 23mm tires last summer hahaha
Something no one mentioned is that the terrain on gravel roads is more interesting because it hasn’t been engineered like a paved road has to be. The hills are steeper. The trees are closer. The curves can be more ‘severe’. When a municipality paves a road it has to meet safety specs that ultimately make it bland and boring by removing almost all of the character. Gravel roads don’t have to meet those standards, which makes them more fun/interesting to ride on.